Major conference to look at impact of Hull UK City of Culture 2017

The University of Hull is to hold a major conference focussing on the impact of Hull’s UK City of Culture year.

Taking place over two days, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 March 2018, the conference Cultural Transformations: The Impacts of Hull UK City of Culture 2017 will explore the results, successes and lessons from Hull’s year in the cultural spotlight. Recommendations for future cities of culture and how Hull can capitalise on the year will also be made.

Findings from an extensive evaluation of Hull’s UK City of Culture year will be presented and explored during the conference. The report examines the impact of the year across five key areas including economy; place-making; arts and culture; partnerships and development; and society and well-being.

Led by the University of Hull’s Culture, Place and Policy Institute (CPPI), as part of the University’s strategic partnership with Hull 2017, the report includes comprehensive monitoring and evaluation data with in-depth stakeholder consultations, a residents’ survey and analysis of some of the key projects delivered such as the volunteering and learning initiatives and major programme highlights including Made in Hull, Land of Green Ginger, Look Up, Flood and Back to Ours.

The event will bring together cultural and business sector leaders, civic bodies, funding partners, academia and representatives from local communities to examine the outcomes of Hull UK City of Culture 2017. Addresses will be delivered by a range of influential speakers including Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England; Phil Redmond, Chair of the UK City of Culture Panel and Robert Palmer, Former Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage at the Council of Europe. Breakout sessions and a conference exhibition displaying Hull City of Culture artefacts and ‘data art’ will also be included as part of the varied conference programme.

As a Principal Partner – and exclusive academic research partner – with Hull 2017, the University of Hull played an integral role in producing and hosting some of the year’s spectacular cultural events.

Professor Glenn Burgess, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull and Hull 2017 Board Member said: “Hull’s City of Culture year – and the people and organisations that contributed to it – has demonstrated extraordinary success. Our interim findings about the first three months of the year demonstrated that exceptionally high levels of participation and a strong sense of pride amongst residents had already been achieved.

“We look forward to unveiling the full report at the conference and exploring the achievements resulting from Hull’s UK City of Culture year.”

Phil Batty, Director of Public Engagement and Legacy, Hull UK City of Culture 2017, said: "The response to Hull's City of Culture year has surpassed all our expectations and the University of Hull's evaluation and conference are an opportunity to consider its impact. The findings will contribute to legacy planning for the city and we hope be useful for other towns and cities, whether aiming for city of culture status, or looking to embed culture into their overall strategic planning."

Tickets are available now for the conference; to book or for further information, click here.